If you’ve ever conducted an online search for ski resorts in China, you may have encountered articles with headlines such as, “Where to (Surprisingly) Go Skiing in China,” “China’s Skiing Revolution,” or the top related-search suggestion, “Does China have ski resorts?”.
However all of this confusion and consternation would surely bewilder those who lived roughly 5,000 years ago in the Altai Mountains of present-day northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. For it is these folks who, thanks to some rock paintings found along the region’s Dundebulake river valley, are credited with being one of the earliest pockets of civilization to have strapped repurposed wooden planks to their feet and hit the slopes.
In fact, at a 2006 news conference in Beijing, Chinese ski historian, Shan Zhaojian, proudly pro-claimed that China was “the original place for human skiing.” While his comment gave rise to a, quite literal, world of debate, Shan’s assertion is not without its merits.
Nevertheless, unlike Shan’s assertion, the headlines that pop up on search engines are without their merits, and Beijing, as well as China at large, is rife with ski resorts for all ages and skill levels.
Below we’ve collected a few of those resorts that are within easy reach of the Capital, so that you too can glide through winter like the Altai residents of old.
Badaling Ski Resort & Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival
Badaling Ski Resort combines Huabei’s proximity to the Great Wall with Snow World’s commute along the Golden Tourist Route, which makes for a truly special China holiday getaway. Across the park, you’ll find two ski runs for beginners, two for intermediate skiers, and one for advanced folks, though word on the street is that even the more advanced trails aren’t beyond the skill level of most intermediates. Of course, non-skiers are not to be left out of the fun. Badaling offers snow tubing, snow mobiles, and even dog sleigh tracks.
What’s more, it’s got onsite accommodation which means you don’t have to head home after a long day of tiring yourself out on the slopes. There’s myriad attractions nearby such as the Longmai and Tianlongyuan Hot Springs to rest those achey muscles in the evening.
What makes Badaling Ski Resort particularly unique though is its impressive light display once the sun goes down. Dazzling, colorful lights shine through the resort, making the whole place look like something out of a children’s book. Additionally, if you find yourself there between January and February, you can pop over to the Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival, which takes the idea of a winter wonderland to a whole new level.
Badaling Ski Resort
Address:
66 Economic Development Zone, Badaling Town, Yanqing County
Public Transportation:
Take Bus 919 from Dongzhimen Bus Terminal: from Beijing the buses leave at 8am and 9am; back from Badaling Ski Resort the buses leave 3pm and 4pm.
Driving:
Drive along the Badaling Expressway and take Exit 50 (Badaling Great Wall). Continue through Badaling Safari Park, drive for another 3 km until you reach Badaling Ski Resort.
Booking Hotline:
6912 9944
Rates:
RMB 80 – RMB 270 depending on equipment rentals, day and length of time.
Hours of Operation:
8.30am-5pm (weekdays)
8.30am-5pm & 6-9pm (weekends)
Longing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival
Address:
Longing Gorge Scenic Area, Gucun Village, Jiuxian Town, Yanqing County
Public Transportation:
Bus 919 from Deshengmen Bus Terminal. At Yanqing County, transfer to Bus 920 bound for Longqing Gorge.
Driving:
Take the Badaling Expressway (Jingzang Expressway) and get off at Exit 62. Drive along National Highway, through Yanqing County, until you arrive at Longqing Gorge.
Enquiries:
6919 1020
Rates:
RMB 100 (Adults), RMB 50 (Students), Free (12 & Under)
Hours of Operation:
9am-10pm
Beijing Snow World (Xueshijie) Ski Resort
At a mere thirty minutes drive from downtown Beijing, Xueshijie (which literally translates to Snow World) Ski Resort is perfect for a quick day trip. It’s located along the Golden Tourist Route, which takes commuters past the Ming Tombs, Juyongguan Great Wall, and Badaling Great Wall, so if you have friends or family in town, or if you haven’t been to these spots yourself, you could knock out a couple of sites throughout the day.
In addition to its five slopes, Beijing Snow World Ski Resort has two snow playgrounds for sled-ding and tubing, in case you or your little one aren’t so ski- or snowboard-inclined. Additionally, if any in your party happen to be less experienced, fear not, the park has ski coaches for beginners and kids at RMB 220 per hour.
Address:
Xiaogongmen, Shisanling Town, Changping District
Public Transportation:
Take Bus 345 zhi (345連) at Deshengmen Bus Terminal, then get off at Zhengfa University
（漣랬댕欺), then change for Bus 53 at Sunshine Plaza (捺밑衢), get off at Xianguo Leyuan（銶벎있蹈), you will see the Snow World Ski Resort.
Driving:
Take the Badaling Expressway until Exit 32 (Xiguan 鮫밑). Continue north along National Highway 110 for 5km and turn left at Tailing Tomb. Follow this road until you reach the ski resort.
Booking Hotline:
8976 1886 / 8976 1899 / 8976 1707
Rates:
RMB 30 – RMB 1360 depending on equipment rentals, day and length of time
Hours of Operation:
8am-5pm
Beijing Huabei International Ski Resort
You’ve seen the Great Wall. You’ve probably even walked across it at this point. But have you ever skied next to it? No? Well now’s your chance! The Beijing Huabei International Ski Resort is the only ski resort in the Capital’s confines to be flanked on three sides by the country’s most iconic structure. With unprecedented views like these, Huabei International definitely puts both the Ski and the Resort in Ski Resort.
If that weren’t enough, Huabei International is also the largest ski resort in Beijing, boasting an impressive 5,100m of ski trails and a massive drop of 238m. Between its seven slopes, one is reserved for the most seasoned skiers, three go to the intermediate, and a whopping four trails are available for those still trying to find their snowlegs. If you count yourself among the latter bunch, ski and snowboarding lesson packages are available for between RMB 220 and RMB 1,700, depending on sport, lesson length, and amount of people in your party.
To make matters more convenient, Huabei International Ski Resort provides a shuttle bus that departs from Oriental Ginza, located near Exit B of the Dongzhimen Line 2 Subway Station, with rides costing RMB 150 for weekdays and RMB 210 for weekends.
Address:
No. 548, Hefangkou Village, Huaibei Town, Huairou District
Public Transportation:
Take Bus No. 936 (branch) / 936（連）窟 at Dongzhimen Bus Terminal.
Driving:
Take the Jingcheng Expressway to Exit 14. Take Huidu Road (삔떼쨌) to National Highway No.111 (111 벌돛) until you pass Yanxi Lake
(洛鮫빤). Continue north for about 5km until you reach the ski resort.
Booking Hotline:
8969 6677
Rates:
RMB 38 – RMB 198 depending on equipment rentals, day and length of time.
Hours of Operation:
8.30am-9pm
This article appeared in the beijingkids December 2019 Giving Back issue
